Burglar or animal trap



(No Model.) l

W. F. MGCREADY. BURGLAR 0R ANIMAL TRAP.

. No. 463,537. Patented Nov-.17, -1891.

UNTTnn STATES PATENT FFICE. l`

VILLIAM F. MCOREADY, OF HOMFVOOD, PENNSYLVANIA.

BURGLAR R ANIMAL TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,537, dated November 17, 1891.

Application filed January 7, 1891. Serial No. 377.034. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. MCCREADY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Homewood, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Burglar or Animal Traps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in thel art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates. to an improved animal or burglar trap; and it consists in certain details of construction and combination of parts, as will be fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan'view of my improved trap, which is constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the bolting device. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation showing in dotted line the position of the trap when sprung. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation of one of the buttons or locks to avoid accidents. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the device for locking and holding the main flap in position.

To put my invention into practice I form an oblong opening in the floor of a building,

if for trapping burglars, and arrange in said.

opening a pivoted liap b, which llsthe opening and is pivoted c back of the center and provided with a'weight (Z, which will keep the flap b in a horizontal position. Arranged at the forward end of this flap b isaspring-actuated bolt e, which is adapted to engage in a recess f, formed in the frame-work surrounding the flap b. Attached to this bolt e is a cord g,whieh extends back some distance over a small pulley h and is connected. to a small ap e', arranged near the center of the large one l), and provided with a weighty' and pivots k, analogous with the large iap, before described. This small iiap't` is locked by two small bolts l, which, when engaged with recesses formed in the front of the same, locks the small flap e' and prevents the trap from being sprung. Attached to these small bolts lare cords m, which extend to the front of the large iiap b, which provides a means for operating the same. Arranged beneath the small flap 'L' is a stop or check n, which will limit the movement of the same. As an eX- tra precaution of safety, I arrange at each side of the large ap b two buttons o, which are secured in the frame-work, and when partly turned move across the flap b and render the same safe. These buttons o consist in apiece having an upwardly-extending sleeve p and cup q, secured loosely in the frame-work of the oor. Projecting from the under side of this button oare two pins r, which are adapted to lock the button o to a handle s, having a cross on each end. The object of this arrangement is to have the handle beneath the surface of the lloor. y

In operation the buttons o are disengaged from the flap?) and the small bolts Zdisengaged from the small iiap fz, which places the trap in condition for use. Should a burglar tread on the small flap e', the same will turn downward, which draws the large bolt efrom its socket f, and the weight will place the large flap in an inclined or vertical position, which will throw the burglar into a tight box or receptacle arranged below for that purpose.

To adapt this trap to animals the size of the same is greatly reduced; but the principle of the invention is adhered to and the bait placed beneath the small tlap t'. y

Having thus described my invention, I claim* l. The combination of a main iiap pivotally secured in a iioor, a spring-actuated bolt operating in said ap and projecting into a keeper in the floor to hold the flap in place, and a supplemental flap pivoted within and forming a part of the main flap, said supplemental iiap being connected with the bolt which sustains the main flap and adapted to withdraw said bolt as the supplemental flap is depressed, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of a main liap pivotally secured in a floor, a spring-actuated bolt operating in said flap and arranged to enter a keeper in the floor to hold the flap in place, a supplemental flap pivotally secured within and forming a part of the mainlap, the pins carried by the main flap and engaging the supplemental flap to hold the saine in a horizontal position, and a connection between the supplemental flap and the bolt which sustains the main flap, adapted to withdraw said bolt IOO when the supplemental flapis depressed, and revolve and pass under the trap to support thereby permit the main Hap to fall and the the same when the handle is raised and the counterbalan(3e-weights on said Hops to ret-urn l cross-piece is engaged with the pins, substzm- 15 them to their normal positions, as and lor the tially as described. purpose described. i In testimony that I claim the foregoing l 3. A device for holding a trap in a horizonl hereunto aix my signature this Sthday of ral position, consisting of a sleeve fitted in a September, A. D. 1890. .door Close to the trap, L handle loosely fitted 7 v in said sleeve and having the cross-pieces on u ILLIAM F MCGREADY' either end thereof, the button o, secured to said handle, and the downwardly-projeating pins carried by said button and adapted to In presence of CHARLES LARGE, M. E. HARRISON. 

